Japan's economy ministry is planning to test cashless payment technology using fingerprints and other biometric markers to make transactions more convenient for foreign tourists, sources close to the project said Tuesday.

The trials by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will be held from around October in tourism hot spots in the Kanto region around Tokyo, the Kansai region centering on Osaka and Kyushu, the sources said.

The ministry will analyze customer data and purchasing patterns collected from each area during the trials by nationality, age group and other demographic features, with a view to making Japan a more attractive destination and improving tourism services in the country.